Solar and filter pump programming help

[mikestan21]

I just had a Suntrek Solar system installed and started up. I have Jandy Aqualink control panel with a connected IQ20-RS.

Question on the programming for the solar. The guy that started up the system said that I just leave the solar on/enabled via my jandy aqualink control, which we setup. He mentioned that doing this would automatically run the filter pump when the solar sensor kicked solar on based on weather. So when he left, my filter pump and solar was enabled. The solar system shutoff in the evening but the filter did not so I turned it off myself.
Do I need to setup a program schedule to have the filter pump run during daylight hours so that the solar can function correctly? And if so, what RPM should I have it run at?
I don't have any experience with solar pool systems and I want to make sure my system is setup properly. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

It is hard for us to know what is going on with your Suntrek System, Aqualink, and pump without seeing a lot of detail about your pool. If you want to make the investment in time to first create your signature with details of your pool and equipment and then post detailed pictures of your pool plumbing, valves, and internal wiring of the Aqualink panel then we will try and help you through the internet understand your system. We also need to see what pool pump you have and how is wired into the Aqualink.

 

[RDspaguy]

You say it was just installed? Call the guy who installed it and programmed your aqualink. You should expect everything to work properly after paying to have it done. Just my professional opinion.

 

[jimmythegreek]

^^^^Î agree. I dont have experience with Jandy I use Hayward mainly, but the solar is controlled in its own programing usually. The pump will have a run speed set with solar so that if another schedule is running it will kick the pump to the correct speed and enable the solar valve. Hayward also has solar extend to let you go past the scheduled pump run time if heat is available and has not reached the set point. If you know how to search thru your menus you could look to see what he setup. If your not familiar with it you may make the issue worst

 

[mikestan21]

Attached are the photos of my system.

If my solar was setup to automatically kick on the pump I would see that in a scheduled programming group but I don't. Also, when I have solar enabled without the pump running, it says solar isn't heating because the pump is off.

The Suntrek guys weren't very familiar with my Aqualink IQ20-RS which is why I'm looking for help here. If it's normal to have to schedule my pump to run during daylight hours so the solar can heat, that's fine, I just wanted to make sure that's a "normal" course of action.

The first photo is the solar valve and the solar sensor is on the roof, there is no separate solar control.

 

[ajw22]

You have a real mutt mixture of pool equipment with an Jandy Aqualink connected to a Pentair IntelliFlow pump and a Suntrek solar controller. I have not seen anyone with that combination. We can collectively try and help you figure things out but you are going to have to play along with a lot of questions as we try and understand how your system works.

What model number Pentair pump do you have? It looks like the pump is connected to the Aqualink using the RS485 data cable. What is displayed on the pump drive panel when the pump is running?

Do you know if your pump is wired to always have power or switched on and off by the pump/filter relay in the Aqualink?

You didn't post pics of the high voltage wiring section of the Aqualink. I would like to how your relays are wired.

You also did not post pics of the actuator connections. I'd like to see that an actuator is plugged into the SOLAR actuator socket.

Can you set pump speeds on your Aqualink control panel?

Please check what revision your Aqualink system is. You do that by:

- If you have the Aqualink All-Button Panel then MENU -> SYSTEM SETUP(press ENTER) -> DIAGNOSTICS(press ENTER)
- If you have the Aqualink OneTouch Panel then MENU/SELECT(press SELECT) -> SELECT (for HELP) -> DIAGNOSTICS (press SELECT).
- See page 13 in the Jandy iAqualink Product Guide.

Do you have the One Touch Control panel?

I think @PoolGate has an Aqualink with solar and One Touch Control. I don't have solar and have an older Aqualink panel with the All Button Panel.

Do you have a schedule in the Aqualink for solar to turn on and off at specific times?

Do you have a schedule in the Aqualink for the pump to turn on and off at specific times?

 

[PoolGate]

I don't think I will be much help here. I do have a solar aux with mine but I use that aux to activate my low voltage lights. Otherwise as designed it would activate a JVA to turn on the Solar array. With solar it needs the solar temp probe connected and I think there is also an extra control for a solar pump if one exists. I think the solar also sets speed 7 to what the solar array needs to work. Your installer should have tested this before leaving like turning it on/off and going through a complete power cycle to ensure everything is working. At the minimum the solar controller should activate the solar JVA to direct water through the solar panels and turn on the pump to circulate.

 

[PoolGate]

Attached are the photos of my system.

If my solar was setup to automatically kick on the pump I would see that in a scheduled programming group but I don't. Also, when I have solar enabled without the pump running, it says solar isn't heating because the pump is off.

The Suntrek guys weren't very familiar with my Aqualink IQ20-RS which is why I'm looking for help here. If it's normal to have to schedule my pump to run during daylight hours so the solar can heat, that's fine, I just wanted to make sure that's a "normal" course of action.

The first photo is the solar valve and the solar sensor is on the roof, there is no separate solar control.

With solar properly configured, it runs off the solar sensor. The Aqualink is a full solar controller. Pumps and valves come on as needed to maintain the solar settings. The scheduler is not needed. Can you find the solar settings in your Aqualink interface?

 

[mikestan21]

In my Aqualink interface I don't see anywhere that has solar settings. In system setup I see solar priority which is disabled and on the home screen I just see the solar heat on/off option.

The solar seems to be working fine but only when I have the pump on, which I've set in a schedule to run. Makes sense that the solar would only run the pump when it needs it so that's what I'm trying to figure out.

 

[mikestan21]

I found this post and have those settings, but they talk about a few different ways to configure it so I am not sure which to follow:

iAqualink solar programming

Hi folks, Can someone help me with programming my iAqualink with solar heating? I'd like it to be so that the the VSP runs at "filter speed" when solar is not engaged (pool at temp or weather is not warm enough to heat) and "solar speed" when solar is engaged. Right now, I have this...

www.troublefreepool.com

I do see one of my JVA assigned to solar.